The non-profit Broadbent Institution (which is not in operation yet) is accepting donations in lieu of flowers for Jack Layton’s family but with a very unethical twist.
The NDP is running the donations through itself in order to issue political donation tax receipts which are extremely lucrative. Also, as a non-profit society, the Broadbent Institute would be unable to issue any tax receipts.
This loophole is close to fraud in my eyes and exposes the lie to all the NDP previous phony piousness on being a Party doing things different. (see here)
h/t Stephen Taylor
August 25, 2011 at 8:16 PM
Will elections canada take any action, oops, it is not the conservative party doing this.
August 26, 2011 at 5:48 AM
yep Mary, all kinds of civil suits, and actions be election can.. Oh wait, its Jacko…
August 25, 2011 at 8:30 PM
It is,unfortunately,completely legal. Rather sickening how political Party donations have a higher tax deduction than donations to charities,another example of the elite taking care of them selves.
It’s a loophole that should be closed,political donations at the same deduction rate as my bucks to the Sally Ann.
August 25, 2011 at 9:07 PM
Huh, what do you know. From using parachute candidates in the last election, which is rather sleazy (though I’m sure they all do it sometimes), to this. Of course, if you dare question it, you’re not “showing proper respect” for Layton. You would have thought the family would prefer donations would go to the Cancer Society. Instead this practice is lucrative for both donors and the NDP. Such hypocrites.
August 25, 2011 at 10:59 PM
Yes, the idea of directing the donations to a political source instead of the Cancer Society is rather unpleasant isn’t it?
August 25, 2011 at 9:24 PM
So is this the new charity on the scene – funny how that works for the left – if the money had been designated to a conservative think tank it would have caused universal consternation and hand wringing. Crass and self-serving. Cheers.
August 26, 2011 at 5:58 AM
if the money had been designated to a conservative think tank it would have caused universal consternation and hand wringing………
Even the pope would hear of it; Breaking News 24/7
August 25, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Well, now you’ve done it. How dare you question anything associated with the late NDP leader. Evan Solomon will have your head on a platter……
August 26, 2011 at 6:23 AM
Exactly. How dare you bring up something that might anger St. Jack’s disciples!
August 26, 2011 at 4:13 AM
Would you expect anything different from the NDP.The fighting will start soon after the funeral.Who will control the NDP now??
August 26, 2011 at 4:34 AM
Hey there,
On a somewhat related note, during the recent BC NDP leadership convention, I considered joining the provincial party so that I could vote in the leadership race. Reading the BCNDP constitution, I came across this beauty:
2.04: Subject to the provisions of the Federal Constitution, Provincial Council shall allocate funds among the Party (ie, the BCNDP), the New Democratic Party of Canada, and the Provincial and Federal Constituency Associations.
How is it that the BC NDP is allowed to spend their money / time / resources on the Federal NDP’s campaigns?
Furthermore, there are no limits on political contributions in BC, though federal contributions are capped at (what…$1200? $1500?). So if I gave $20,000 to the BC NDP in a fit of madness, presumably they can then “allocate” that donation to the federal NDP, thus circumventing election law. Have I got that right?
August 26, 2011 at 4:44 AM
Is it not a mockery of their “principles” for the Venerable Ed Broadbent to be taking advantage of this loophole?
It’s the utmost in hypocrisy.
August 26, 2011 at 5:52 AM
I thought from the NDP daily speeches regarding to the ‘little guy’ homeless people, and etc is where the NDP will redirect these donations too. Apparently, all that talk is just for ‘show’.
I wonder what Charlie Angus have to say to this
August 26, 2011 at 7:06 AM
Harper set the precedent with the in and out scandal. It should come as no surprise that if Elections Canada can be be browbeaten by the Tories to accept this practice that other parties must do so to stay competitive.
August 26, 2011 at 7:14 AM
Perhaps Revenue Canada might have something to say, as this comes dangerously close to the line between evasion and avoidance. They could simply disallow the tax deduction.
August 26, 2011 at 7:35 AM
Yes now you have gone and done it…….. You simply are not to question the NDDP motives (New Double Dipping Party). It’s just not done sir!
August 26, 2011 at 7:44 AM
The NDP now denies this to be true, saying they’ve corrected “misinformation” on their web site. Is it corrected because they got caught? How many bucks have already been run through this loophole?
How come this story surfaced if it has no foundation?
August 26, 2011 at 8:27 AM
Lizj, ‘The NDP now denies this to be true, saying they’ve corrected “misinformation” on their web site’
Not according to what Liz Thompson who wrote the story “Flowing Broadbent Institute cash through NDP provides big tax breaks
‘However, the party was forced to scramble to find a solution when Jack Layton died with one of his last wishes being that people donate to the Broadbent Institute in lieu of sending flowers.’
Posted on Thu, Aug 25, 2011, 9:52 pm by Elizabeth Thompson
http://ipolitics.ca/2011/08/25/flowing-broadbent-institute-cash-through-ndp-provides-big-tax-breaks/
Lizj, are the NDP now saying that Jack’s wish to forward the donated money to the Institute a ‘misinformation’. Basically putting it a ‘made up story’ by Liz Thompson.
August 26, 2011 at 8:08 AM
[...] Canada specifically condemns the scam (see here) set up by the NDP to “launder” the money people are donating to the Broadbent [...]
August 26, 2011 at 8:32 AM
Get a life .Change the system or live with it.You are all saints untill you look into a mirror.
August 26, 2011 at 9:42 AM
Jack died so it’s ok….
August 26, 2011 at 8:56 PM
was it illegal?
or are you all hand waving?
August 26, 2011 at 9:29 PM
Elections Canada says it is illegal. Funny, the ndp now says no tax receipts will be issued, and Olivia has said not all money will got to Broadbent.
August 29, 2011 at 12:54 PM
[...] have started the process of filing an official complaint with Elections Canada on the NDP Party collecting donations for the Broadbent Institute in that by doing so, it [...]